Bush Sworn In Four Minutes Before Noon
January 20, 2005
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A stickler for punctuality, President Bush was sworn in four minutes early for his second term.
The 20th Amendment to the Constitution provides that the term of president ends at noon on the 20th day of January, when the term of a successor begins. By tradition, the oath of office is administered exactly at noon.
Bush took the oath at 11:56 a.m. EST, leaving plenty of time to spare.